Tony Abbott assaulted in Hobart

FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott has been headbutted by a same sex marriage campaigner in Hobart.

His spokesman told AAP the attack occurred while he was walking in the street and he sustained minor injuries.

Speaking on radio station 3AW, Mr Abbott said the headbutt made slight contact with his face.

"He wasn’t very good at it, I’ve got to say, but he did make contact," he said.

"The only damage was a very, very slightly swollen lip.

"I was with a member of my staff, that staff member then briefly grappled with the guy.

"He then ran off swearing his head off, basically

"It was just a reminder of how ugly this debate is getting."

“He didn’t have a blood nose or break his nose or anything like that,” the spokesman said, before refusing to elaborate on the incident or injuries.

Mr Abbott has been in Tasmania on Thursday lunching with campaigners who are opposed to gay marriage including his Liberal Party colleague Eric Abetz.

Mr Abbott and Mr Abetz visited Hobart Airport to inspect the runway, which was extended as a result of funding from the Abbott government.

Conservative senator Cory Bernardi, who was speaking at a Coalition for Marriage event in Perth tonight, said if the attack was related to the current debate about marriage it drew into question the militancy of some of the people involved in the campaign.

"It's little wonder that so many Australians feel bullied into acquiescence and I suspect that given the sanctity of the postal ballot a number of them will be deciding no," Senator Bernardi said.

"There is a militant extreme in the Yes campaign that is completely intolerant and disrespectful of anyone who disagrees with their views."

Senator Bernardi said the attack made him mindful of his own safety.

"I'll take my chances (campaigning) and if they want to have a crack and we'll see how that ends up," he said.